Edward Francis Curran
July 1, 1939 - September 22, 2021
Ed died peacefully in his home surrounded by his immediate family. He courageously fought Parkinson’s disease as well as pulmonary and cardiac challenges for many years. He leaves his loving wife Nancy, of 52 years, his son, Edward Phillips Curran, his daughter, Elizabeth Genevieve Curran, grandchildren Seamus and Quinn Burke, sisters Carol Lyall and Margie Kimmel, and many nephews, nieces and cousins.
Ed grew up in Roslyn, New York. In high school, Roslyn High School class of ’57, he was captain of the football team, receiving MVP and twice winning the North Shore Invitational Mile Run. He was also President of the Student Body, and editor of the school’s newspaper. He was a member of the Five Fathoms diving club, and Assistant Scoutmaster of Boy Scout troop #1.
Upon graduating from high school, Ed was admitted to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. After graduating from college, Ed served in the Navy, 19621965, flying F4 Phantom bomber jets with the Strike Fighter Squadron 102 “Diamondbacks” off the USS Enterprise, the largest aircraft carrier in the world. While on leave Ed toured Europe and climbed the Matterhorn.
Ed received his Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Naval Academy, his Master of Science at Columbia University, and his Master of Business Administration at Golden Gate University.
He was a Design Engineer in New York for Severud & Associates, performing structural design for the new JFK Center for the Performing Arts. Moving to San Francisco, Ed was the Assistant Engineering Manager at Bechtel, managing the design of the King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia. He was then the Vice President of URS/John Blume & Associates, managing a broad range of projects, including the U.S. Navy Seismic Assessment Program, the facility for the Navy’s “Top Gun” Fighter Advanced Training Squadron. He became the Vice President of Boeing Industrial Technology Group in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
As a Management Consultant he conducted workshops and seminars on Project Management and Construction Management for architect-engineering and construction management firms.
He was an adjunct Professor at Golden Gate University teaching classes in Project and Construction Management.
As a volunteer he taught classes on Project Management Certification Exam Preparation in San Francisco and Oakland. He also set up scholarships for those attending military universities.
Ed loved adventures. He climbed the Matterhorn and Huayna Picchu and was a member of the international running group called The Hash House Harriers. He ran the Boston marathon and many others closer to home. With the family he went skiing in the Alps, took elephant back safaris in Kenya and Nepal, plus a camel back tour of Egypt’s pyramids and caves, also visiting Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong, China, India, several European countries and the Middle East. In Guatemala he encouraged all to climb the pyramids of Tikal. He and Nancy toured all over Europe staying in agriturismos to get the local flavor of the places they were visiting. Closer to home Mt. Whitney and backpacking in the Desolation Wilderness, skiing in Tahoe were family outings. Vacations on Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire made for good sailing and hiking in the Presidential Range.
Ed was a keen sailor on San Francisco Bay. (He sailed an entire day with a fractured pelvis. He concealed the injury, as he didn’t want a hospital visit to interfere with a “great sailing day” with the family.) One of the family’s many wonderful dogs loved sailing as much as Ed did. That dog became part of his crew.
Ed enjoyed gathering with friends and family and sharing the sauvignon blanc he made.
A private memorial with the Neptune Society will take place in the near future.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Parkinson’s Foundation would be appreciated.